Moso bamboo plant named &#39;BSM-001&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a new and distinct cultivar of  Phyllostachys edulis  named ‘BSM-001’, generally characterized by its rigorous growth rate and high biomass yield, compared to the control species.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Phyllostachys edulis

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘BSM-001’

BACKGROUND

Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens with more or less woody stemsin the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribeBambuseae. With over 1,250 species growing from sea level to 13,500feet, bamboo is found on every continent except the frozen poles. Bamboocomprises a highly diverse group of plants, from tall timber varietiesto groundcovers and water species. Most species are evergreen, thoughsome may be semi-evergreen in cold winters. The American Bamboo Societylists over 225 bamboos that are cold hardy to USDA Zone 7b and below.

The uses of bamboo plants are expanding. For example, bamboo plants arebeing utilized for cuisine, viticulture, arboriculture, parquetflooring, laminate materials, furniture, handicrafts, textile materialfor paper production, structural timber, biomass production, landscapeuse, and benefiting environments.

A workhorse in the fight against global warming, a bamboo stand cansequester over 4 times more CO₂ than an equivalent stand of trees,simultaneously releasing 35% more oxygen. Unfortunately, like trees,bamboo has been the victim of deforestation due to population growth andincreased demand for plant fiber.

There are two general patterns for the growth of bamboo: “clumping”(sympodial) and “running” (monopodial). Clumping bamboo species tend tospread slowly, as the growth pattern of the rhizomes is to simply expandthe root mass gradually, similar to ornamental grasses. “Running”bamboos, on the other hand, spread mainly through their roots and/orrhizomes, which can spread widely underground and send up new culms tobreak through the surface. Running bamboo species are highly variable intheir tendency to spread; this is related to both the species and thesoil and climate conditions. Some can send out runners of several metersa year, while others can stay in the same general area for long periods.

Traditionally, bamboo has been propagated from seed as well as by rootdivision and rhizome cuttings. Bamboo, however, does not flower andproduce seeds often. Some species may not produce seed for 10 to 60years or more, and then flower all at the same time, which is known asgregarious flowering. Certain species of bamboo are termed monocarpicdue to the flowering and production of seed only once in their lifecycle. Most species are not monocarpic, although they die back or becomeweakened after a blooming cycle and it takes a few years before theplant is completely healthy again.

Bamboo flowers are typically pollinated by wind or insects leading tocross-pollination and hybridization between different plants. Thestructure of the flowers prevents or discourages self-pollination,although some self-pollination can occur. Some bamboo species displayselfing incompatibility. Thus, seed harvested from a bamboo plantpollinated naturally will mostly consist of a variety of genotypes fromcross-pollination. Given the lengthy periodicity between flowerings,seed is not a reliable tool for production.

Phyllostachys edulis, commonly known as Moso bamboo, is the largestgrowing species of the genus and is considered a running bamboo. P.edulis flowers sporadically and, in general, is not consideredgregarious.

Moso bamboo has commonly been used for cane production for buildingapplications, as a large screen/hedge, for wind break, for bankstabilization and erosion control, for shoot production (e.g., as feedfor panda bears), and as a specimen plant in home yards, industrialsettings and botanical gardens. Moso is the most popular bamboo formanufacturing lumber products and bamboo flooring.

There is a continual need for improved cultivars of Moso bamboo,particularly for timber uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhyllostachys edulis discovered and asexually reproduced by the inventorand will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name ‘BSM-001’. Thiscultivar represents a new cultivar of Phyllostachys edulis, a perennialevergreen plant in the true grass family Poaceae.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts ‘BSM-001’ as compared to control Moso bamboo growingunder standard in vitro culture conditions, wherein each of the plantsis 5 months old and was produced via shoot induction, multiplication anddivision.

FIG. 2 depicts ‘BSM-001’ as compared to control Moso bamboo growing insoil under standard greenhouse conditions, wherein the plants as shownwere planted into soil and placed in the greenhouse 7 months before thepicture was taken.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANTS

Seeds produced from the open pollination of Moso plants of unknownparentage were subsequently harvested and bulked. The resultant seedswere germinated and individual seedlings were selected for furtherpropagation and selection. ‘BSM-001’ was selected based on its vigorousgrowth and its ability to produce abundant shoots in in vitro culture.

‘BSM-001’ was asexually propagated by the inventor in Mt. Vernon, Wash.using a node from a cane of ‘BSM-001’ with a lateral shoot just breakingthe sheath. The resulting shoot material was micropropagated by theinventor in Mt. Vernon, Wash. on shoot induction/multiplication mediafor several cycles. FIG. 1 depicts multiple shoots of asexuallyreproduced ‘BSM-001’ after 5 months of continuous subculture cycles of 3weeks each. The resultant asexually reproduced shoots were subsequentlyplanted into pot soil in the greenhouse. FIG. 2 depicts a ‘BSM-001’plant after being transferred to soil and grown in the greenhouse for 7months. Thousands of asexually reproduced plants of ‘BSM-001’ have beenproduced by the inventor at Mt. Vernon, Wash. and the characteristics ofthis cultivar have been determined to be stable and have reproduced trueto type.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. The new cultivar ‘BSM-001’ has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in temperature, day-length, lightintensity, soil types, and water and fertility levels without, however,any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: ‘BSM-001’ is a new cultivar of    Phyllostachys edulis.-   Common name: Moso bamboo-   Parentage: Unknown— open pollination by unknown parents.-   General description:    -   -   Propagation.—in vitro shoot culture; rhizome division;            shoots from nodal sections of cane.        -   Growth rate.—vigorous.        -   Plant habit.—woody, tall, upright, evergreen, runner,            perennial, wind tolerant.        -   Plant height.—up to 70 feet.        -   Stem diameter.—6-8 inches.        -   Cane color.—light olive-green.        -   Culms.—upright.        -   Foliage.—canes are adorned with small and dainty foliage.        -   Culture.—best in USDA Climate Zones 6 or 7 and warmer,            preferably in the southeast portion of the U.S.        -   Diseases and pests.—None known.        -   Flower.—Not yet observed; Moso bamboo is an infrequent            flowerer.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phyllostachys edulis plant named‘BSM-001’ substantially as shown and described herein.